U.S. patent number 4,311,022 [Application Number 06/141,628] was granted by the patent office on 1982-01-19 for foldable ice pack.
Invention is credited to John M. Hall.
United States Patent |
4,311,022 |
Hall |
January 19, 1982 |
Foldable ice pack
Abstract
An ice pack which is constructed of a plurality of separate
compartments which are connected together through a webbing
assembly. Each of the compartments is movable in respect to each
other permitting the ice pack to be located within confined various
sizes of spaces. Within each compartment of the ice pack is located
a quantity of freezable substance which is to be used as a
refrigerant. Each compartment is enclosed by a wall assembly which
retards the accumulation of moisture on the exterior surface of the
wall assembly.
Inventors: |
Hall; John M. (Anderson,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
22496499 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/141,628 |
Filed: |
April 18, 1980 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/457.2; 62/372;
62/529; 62/530 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C
11/20 (20130101); F25D 3/08 (20130101); F25D
2303/0822 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45C
11/20 (20060101); F25D 3/08 (20060101); F25D
3/00 (20060101); F25D 003/08 (); F25D 003/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;62/430,529,530,457,372 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
709145 |
|
May 1965 |
|
CA |
|
1401600 |
|
Oct 1968 |
|
DE |
|
1018835 |
|
Jan 1953 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: King; Lloyd L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Munro; Jack C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A foldable ice pack comprising:
a plurality of separate compartments, each said compartment to
contain a refrigerant;
a webbing assembly innerconnecting said compartments, said webbing
assembly including a single thin webbing strip located between each
connected pair of said compartments;
each said compartment being enclosed by a wall assembly, said wall
assembly comprising an inner layer of sheet material which is
overlapped with an outer layer of sheet material, a slight air
space is formed between said inner layer and said outer layer, said
air space is to function as insulation retarding the accumulation
of moisture on the exterior surface of said outer layer;
an additional layer of sheet material located about said outer
layer, a second air space formed between said additional layer and
said outer layer, said second air space to function as insulation
further retarding the accumulation of moisture on the exterior
surface of said additional layer; and
a drain opening formed within said additional layer, whereby any
moisture accumulated within said second air space to be discharged
to the ambient through said drain opening.
2. The foldable ice pack as defined in claim 1 wherein:
an access opening provided within said additional layer, said
compartments and said webbing assembly being removable intact
through said access opening.
3. The foldable ice pack as defined in claim 2 wherein:
said compartments being connected together in an in-line
manner.
4. The foldable ice pack as defined in claim 3 wherein:
said refrigerant takes the form of a gel.
5. The foldable ice pack as defined in claim 4 wherein:
At least one opening located within each of said webbing strips to
facilitate said movement of said compartments in respect to each
other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of this invention relates to a temporary refrigerant and
more particularly to a reusable ice pack which when frozen can be
placed in a lunch pail, ice chest or other type of portable
carrying container with the ice pack functioning to maintain the
contents located within the carrying container in a refrigerated
state.
The use of an ice pack which contains a refrigerant is known. The
typical refrigerant would be a plastic gelatin which is confined
within a plastic sheet material wall. Such ice packs are to be
frozen within a freezer and then can be removed therefrom and
relocated within an ice chest or other similar carrying container
in order to maintain food stuffs cold.
There are two disadvantages of ice packs of the prior art. Although
the prior art ice packs are satisfactory for enlarged carrying
containers, such as ice chests, such are not readily usable within
smaller carrying containers, such as a lunch box. Additionally,
prior art ice packs have a tendency to accumulate moisture on the
exterior surface of the ice pack. This moisture is readily absorbed
by any food stuffs which comes into contact with the ice pack. This
is most undesirable since many types of food stuffs, such as
sandwiches, are not readily palatable in a soggy condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of this invention is to construct a foldable ice pack
which can be used as a temporary refrigerant which substantially
eliminates the accumulation of moisture on its exterior surface
during usage. This objective is achieved through the employing of a
plurality of separate refrigerant containing compartments which are
contained within a multiple layered wall assembly. Moisture is to
accumulate between the layers of material thereby not accumulating
on the exterior surface of the outer layer of material. The outer
layer of material is to comprise a loose bag within which the
compartmentalized ice pack is contained. The outer layer of
material is to include a drain opening to facilitate drainage of
any accumulated moisture. Also, an access opening is provided
within the outer layer to provide for removal for cleaning of the
outer layer of material.
Another purpose of this invention is to design an ice pack of a
plurality of separate interconnected compartments which can be
folded into a wide variety of different shapes permitting the ice
pack to be used within confined containers of limited size, such as
lunch boxes, small ice chests and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a foldable ice pack of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
and
FIG. 3 is a diagramatic view of the foldable ice pack of this
invention showing how such can be located within a confined small
size carrying container, such as a lunch box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOWN EMBODIMENT
Referring particularly to the drawing, there is shown the foldable
ice pack assembly 10 of this invention which is constructed
generally of a plurality of compartments 12 which are formed by a
wall assembly 14.
The wall assembly 14 is constructed of a plurality of separate
layers of plastic sheet material with there being an inner layer
16, an outer layer 18 and an additional outer layer 20. The inner
layer 16 defines the side wall of each compartment 12. The inner
layer 16 is sealed as by heat sealing between adjacent compartments
12 to form a longitudinal webbing strip 20 and a plurality of
spaced apart transverse webbing strips 22. The webbing strips 20
may be cut by means of a cutting tool such as a knife or scissors
so as to separate the ice pack assembly 10 into separate ice packs.
This may be desirable so that a single in-line section of the
compartments 12 may be employed within a confined space, such as
the lunch box shown within FIG. 3. If the ice pack assembly 10 is
to be employed within an ice chest, (not shown) cutting of the
longitudinal strip 20 may not be required.
The outer layer is located about the inner layer 16 in a close
fitting manner. This outer layer 18 is also heat sealed in the same
manner as the inner layer 16 and in the same locations. There is
inherently a slight air space located between the layers 16 and
18.
Within each compartment 12 is located a quantity of a refrigerant
24 which will normally take the form of a plastic gel. During the
warming process, there is a natural tendency for moisture to
accumulate on the exterior surface of the inner layer 16. This
accumulated moisture will be confined to the slight air space
between the layers 16 and 18.
Formed within the transverse webs 22 are openings 26. The openings
26 are provided for ease of movement of one compartment 12 with
respect ot another compartment 12. This is so as to permit ease of
folding of the ice pack assembly 10 into various configurations,
such as the configuration shown within FIG. 3. Although each
transverse web 22 will be initially very cold, this offers only a
minimum amount of resistance to the folding of the ice pack
assembly 10.
There is also the possibility that some moisture may collect on the
exterior surface of the layer 18. To prevent this moisture from
contaminating adjacent food stuffs, an additional layer of material
in the form of a bag 28 is to be located in a loose fitting manner
about the compartments 12. The bag 28 will normally be constructed
of a transparent material and will be formed of sheet plastic.
One end of the bag 28 includes a drain hole 30 which is to provide
for discharge of any accumulated moisture. Also, the bag 28 has an
enlarged access opening which is closable by means of snaps 32
which permits removal of the compartmentalized ice pack assembly 10
in order to facilitate cleaning.
* * * * *